Care Guide
Enclosures
Ethical standards outline that enclosures should be a minimum of 600 square inches of unbroken floor space. Research shows that this reduces stress emitting behaviors such as pacing and excessive chewing.
You can create an enclosure with a 50 gallon bin, rat wire and some screws or zip ties. If you would like instructions on how to make one, please let us know.
Here is a link to the type of bin you can purchase. There is limited availability of this bin, so it may not always be an option.
Alternately most major pet stores carry 40 gallon breeder tanks or 75 gallon tanks, screen lids and clips that will also meet these standards. Periodically they have sales where tanks are $1/gallon or 40% off. Those sales are in-person only transactions.
For fish tanks, you will need a screened lid to prevent your hamster from escaping. There are 40 B/50 gallon screened lids or the Zilla Solid Screen Cover (the 48 x 18 fits a 75 gallon tank). For extra security, get some screen cover clips.
There are other cages out there that meet the requirements, but out of personal preference we may not endorse them on our website, but might approve them in order to adopt a hamster.
Here is more information on additional ethical enclosures.
You can create an enclosure with a 50 gallon bin, rat wire and some screws or zip ties. If you would like instructions on how to make one, please let us know.
Here is a link to the type of bin you can purchase. There is limited availability of this bin, so it may not always be an option.
Alternately most major pet stores carry 40 gallon breeder tanks or 75 gallon tanks, screen lids and clips that will also meet these standards. Periodically they have sales where tanks are $1/gallon or 40% off. Those sales are in-person only transactions.
For fish tanks, you will need a screened lid to prevent your hamster from escaping. There are 40 B/50 gallon screened lids or the Zilla Solid Screen Cover (the 48 x 18 fits a 75 gallon tank). For extra security, get some screen cover clips.
There are other cages out there that meet the requirements, but out of personal preference we may not endorse them on our website, but might approve them in order to adopt a hamster.
Here is more information on additional ethical enclosures.
Water Bottles
A hamster also needs access to water, provided by either a secured water bottle, a water bowl, or both.
Water Bottle
We recommend securing the water bottle with industrial Velcro or by crafting a wire that can hang from outside of the lid.
Water Bottle
We recommend securing the water bottle with industrial Velcro or by crafting a wire that can hang from outside of the lid.
Exercise Wheels
Ethical hamster wheel requirements outline that Syrian hamsters need a minimum of 10 inches in diameter. Smaller wheels can injure a hamster's delicate spinal cord and lead to back pain. Larger hamsters may require 12 inch wheels to avoid bending their back as they run.
Exercise Saucer
Silent Runner
Wodent Wheel
Comfort Wheel
Exercise Saucer
Silent Runner
Wodent Wheel
Comfort Wheel
Nutrition
For the first 6 months hamsters should be fed a lab block with a minimum protein content of 23% such as Teklad 8640 or Mazuri Rat & Mouse blocks.
A quality seed mix such as Sunburst Higgins should also be added to encourage foraging and can be fed exclusively to adult hamsters after they are six-months of age.
If you need additional help finding an enclosure, food or accessories we would be happy to help!
We also have a fresh food section provided below for fresh veggies and fruits that can also be provided to your hamster.
A quality seed mix such as Sunburst Higgins should also be added to encourage foraging and can be fed exclusively to adult hamsters after they are six-months of age.
If you need additional help finding an enclosure, food or accessories we would be happy to help!
We also have a fresh food section provided below for fresh veggies and fruits that can also be provided to your hamster.
Bedding
We recommend a mixture of Aspen Shavings and soft Paper Bedding. One end of the cage (the opposite of the water bottle) should have 6-8 inches of bedding because hamsters naturally burrow in order to feel safe and mimic their natural environment.
Chews
These chews are the best, Whimzees just make sure you order the ones for small dogs as the one's for larger dogs have ingredients that are not compatible with a hamster's diet.
Hideouts
We recommend having one large hideout and one smaller one. A few examples are provided below;
Ceramic Hideouts
Plastic Large Igloo
Ceramic Hideouts
Plastic Large Igloo
Taming and Enrichment
Syrian hamsters can be a bit shy, particularly after a bumpy ride home. We typically recommend that you handle your hamster when you first get home and then giving them a full day to get used to their new enclosure. After that try picking up your hamster and handling them for about 5 minutes a day. Here is a video of me picking up a skittish hamster.
You can also get a play pen or sit in a bathtub with you hamster until they get used to being held.
It's also worth mentioning the hamsters are crepuscular prey animals, which means that they are naturally active at dawn, dusk and sporadically throughout the night. It is natural for them to wait for the lights to go out before emerging from their burrow. If you find that your hamster is being a hermit wake them up by luring or digging them out of their burrow. Some folx feel guilty for disturbing them, but overall, they benefit from human interactions.
When hamsters are coming from us, they typically wake up around 7pm, so if you find that they are coming out later they are probably afraid and hiding from you. One trick that I use is to turn the lights on for 12 hours a day (especially in the winter). They will usually come out once the lights have been off for an hour or two. You can recalibrate their schedule this way. Once they get to know you, they may even look for you and want a lot more attention than you would expect.
Snuggle sacks can help with taming your hamster. There are many different versions, and you can even make you own. They are basically a pocket that has a soft plush inside so that there is a barrier between you and your hamster.
Snuggle Sack
Snuggle Sack 2
Here are also some random toys;
Wooden Tunnel
Ball Trio
You can also get a play pen or sit in a bathtub with you hamster until they get used to being held.
It's also worth mentioning the hamsters are crepuscular prey animals, which means that they are naturally active at dawn, dusk and sporadically throughout the night. It is natural for them to wait for the lights to go out before emerging from their burrow. If you find that your hamster is being a hermit wake them up by luring or digging them out of their burrow. Some folx feel guilty for disturbing them, but overall, they benefit from human interactions.
When hamsters are coming from us, they typically wake up around 7pm, so if you find that they are coming out later they are probably afraid and hiding from you. One trick that I use is to turn the lights on for 12 hours a day (especially in the winter). They will usually come out once the lights have been off for an hour or two. You can recalibrate their schedule this way. Once they get to know you, they may even look for you and want a lot more attention than you would expect.
Snuggle sacks can help with taming your hamster. There are many different versions, and you can even make you own. They are basically a pocket that has a soft plush inside so that there is a barrier between you and your hamster.
Snuggle Sack
Snuggle Sack 2
Here are also some random toys;
Wooden Tunnel
Ball Trio
Fresh Foods
*This content originated from the Ontario Hamster Club and Poppy Bee Hamstery's website. Tony Dean from Cheeks & Squeaks Hamstery thankfully did an enormous amount of research into safe and unsafe foods for Syrian hamsters.
There are many human foods which are safe for hamsters. As rodents, these animals are quite diverse and unique in their eating habits. Many people, including owners, breeders and rescues tend to unfairly compare hamsters’ nutritional needs to those of dogs and cats. However, rats are much closer biologically to hamsters, and as such, are better comparisons when it comes to what is and is not safe. For ease, this list has been divided into various categories. Any food items which have controversy surrounding them are located at the bottom of the list, supported by peer-reviewed scientific documents which support their position as safe, or unsafe.
When working with fresh food, a good “portion” guide is the size of your hamster’s ear.
FruitsFruits are a popular addition to an everyday hamster mix. Below is a fairly comprehensive list of some fruits that are safe for hamsters. Some may be addressed later on in our controversial area. Please note that fruits are perfectly acceptable to feed to all species of hamsters. While some species of dwarfs are diabetic prone they can still enjoy fruit in moderation. This article does a great job explaining why sugar in itself is not inherently bad, and how fruit can be an important part in a dwarfs’ regular diet.
Almonds
Some of the hamster community has confused human grade almonds with bitter almonds, which are not sold for human consumption and contain cyanide. If you can eat it, so can your hamster.
Avocado
Based on research into the rat fancy, provided it does not include the pit or skin, avocado is safe. It is also recommended that you use flesh that is NOT touching the pit. It is very high in fat, something the owner should consider.
“This study investigated the impact of diets contain- ing various levels of avocado (5, 10 and 15%) on gut health in rats fed for six weeks. Avocado-fed rats had significantly higher food intakes while their body weights remained similar to the control diet-fed rats. No significant changes in intestinal bacterial populations (ileum, cecum and colon) were found in rats fed avocado diets compared to the control diet. Ileum and colon tissues of rats fed avocado diets showed significantly higher expression of genes (β-defensin 1, mucin 3 or mucin 4) and a greater number of mucin-producing goblet cells in the colon. The percentage of avocado in the diet had varying effects in altering the biomarkers, whereby diet containing 15% avocado was the more effective diet. This study delivers new knowledge on the role of avocado on gut health in rats.” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/28550342/
Chocolate
Chocolate is a very contested topic in small pet communities. Ultimately, chocolate is perfectly safe, however many owners still feel an initial knee-jerk reaction. Since the active ingredient in chocolate (theobromine) is toxic to dogs, many people push hamsters under this umbrella. It couldn’t be further from the truth - in fact, chocolate could mean the difference between life and death for a hamster or rat!
“Hamsters and mice were much more resistant to theobromine than were rats. A decrease in growth and in thymic weights occurred only at the highest dose levels of theobromine and testicular and thymic changes were completely absent in hamsters. “ http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0041008X79902850
“…more resistant than rats, while hamsters were almost completely resistant to the effects of high doses of theobromine (Tarka et al., 1979).” http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0041008X80903609
“Theobromine shows moderate acute toxicity and the dog is more susceptible than rodents.” http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/doc/725.pdf The use of theobromine (the active chemical in chocolate) as a bronchodilator:
“Surprisingly, accumulating evidence suggests that dark chocolate can carry antitussive effects. Although mechanisms remain unknown, it is thought that theobromine, a methylxanthine intrinsic to dark chocolate, might potentially suppress cough.” http://dx.doi.org/10.3816/SCT.2007.n.006
Further Reading: http://dmd.aspetjournals.org/content/12/2/154.short
Citrus Fruits
Owners have cautioned against the use of citrus fruits for years citing they are “too acidic”. However, there is no scientific evidence that supports this. Instead, science points to citrus fruits being beneficial. We advise owners use their better judgement, and stick to “sweeter” citrus fruits, such as tangerines and mandarins.
“To investigate the molecular mechanism based chemopreventive efficacy of hesperetin on 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA) induced hamster buccal pouch (HBP) squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). The oral tumour was provoked by painted with 0.5% DMBA on left buccal pouch thrice a week for 10 consecutive weeks developed well-differentiated SCC and tumour formation was 100% in DMBA alone. We evaluated the chemopreventive potential of hesperetin by assessing the lipid peroxidation (LPO) by-products, status of enzymatic, non-enzymatic antioxidants, detoxifying agents etc. Moreover, modulating expression of apoptotic and cell proliferation markers were observed in HBP SCC experimental hamsters. Oral administration of hesperetin (20 mg/kg b.w.) to DMBA painted hamsters significantly reversed the stages of oral SCC. Our findings indicate that hesperetin possesses a chemopreventive effect in DMBA-induced oral SCC by exerting anti-carcinogenic property.” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28457144
“The results of this study suggest that lemon peels and the waste stream of the lemon peels are as effective in lowering plasma and liver cholesterol in hamsters as the pectin extracted from the peels and that also compounds other than pectin are probably responsible for the cholesterol lowering effect of the citrus peels.” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11990004
“The data show that 4 flavonoids (hesperetin, neohesperidin, tangeretin, and nobiletin) were inactive. The results with naringin and naringenin show that both of these flavonoids significantly lowered tumor number [5.00 (control group), 2.53 (naringin group), and 3.25 (naringenin group)]. Naringin also significantly reduced tumor burden [269 mmm3(control group) and 77.1 mmm3(naringin group)]. The data suggest that naringin and naringenin, 2 flavonoids found in high concentrations in grapefruit, may be able to inhibit the development of cancer.” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18444138
Additional Reading:
Cucumber and watermelon both get a bad reputation as more watery fruits. They are perfect foods for providing hydration especially on long journeys. As well, a hamster will simply moderate their water intake to make up for it. When worried, just remind yourself that we allow our animals free access to water… which is arguably much waterier than cucumber or watermelon!
Dairy Products
Unlike many other animals, hamsters are not lactose intolerant. This means they can consume dairy and dairy products without any issue.
Hamsters also demonstrated the highest levels of lactose consumption. […] The hamster’s pregastric pouch is similar in both structure and function to the rumen of herbivores. It is likely that the ruminant type microorganisms residing in the pregastric pouch, like those of the rumen of herbivores, rapidly attack and digest water soluble carbohydrates such as lactose, thereby minimizing the amount of ingested lactose that reaches the small intestine intact and sparing hamsters the negative consequences of lactose ingestion that are typically experienced by monogastric animals such as rats. Voluntary Lactose Ingestion in Gerbils, Rats, Mice, and Golden Hamsters, David DiBattista, Physiology and Behaviour, Vol. 52, pp 59-63, 1992.
Which then led him to further studies, which proved said hypothesis below.
It is surprising that adult golden hamsters, which resemble other animals in intestinal lactase nevertheless prefer lactose solutions to water over a wide range of concentrations and voluntarily ingest substanstial amounts of lactose […] the hamster’s unusually high level of voluntary lactose consumption depends upon its possession of a pregastric pouch that is similar in both structure and function to the rumen of herbivores […] In the golden hamster, ingested food first enters the pregastric pouch, where it remains for up to an hour or more, with volatile fatty acids being produced and absorbed into the bloodstream. Food then passes into the gastric pouch, which is similar to the glandular stomach of monogastric mammals such as rats, mice and gerbils. […] The microorganisms of the pre-gastric pouch allow hamsters to utilize nonprotein nitrogen sources, such as urea, and may play an important role in the digestion of plant material. Futhermore, those microorganisms, like those residing in the rumen of herbivores, would reasonably be expected to attack and digest water-soluble carbohydrates such as lactose, and thereby to minimize the amount of ingested lactose that reaches the gastric pouch and the small and large intestines. […] This experiment demonstrates that surgical removal of the hamster’s pregastric pouch causes a 40% reduction in voluntary lactose consumption. Surgical Removal of the Pregastric Pouch Reduces Voluntary Lactose Consumption in Golden Hamsters, David DiBattista and Michele Robillard in Physiology and Behaviour, Vol. 53, pp 425-429, 1993
Garlic
Garlic has previously been thought as quite a dangerous food for hamsters. However, studies are showing that it actually has nutritional benefits! We still advise owners to not feed their hamsters raw garlic, or garlic on its own, however it is perfectly safe when cooked into other foods (ie. savoury baby food purees).
“The findings in this study further demonstrate that unlike most of the standard antileishmanial drugs, which require protracted parenteral therapy and are toxic, an agent derived from garlic can be administered either orally or intraperitoneally with similar effectiveness against Leishmania parasites.”” http://www.mrcindia.org/journal/issues/473160.pdf
“Administration of a combined dose of tomato and garlic significantly decreased the incidence of HBP carcinomas and mean tumor burden and the frequency of bone marrow micronuclei. . .The present study, an extension of our previous work, demonstrates the efficacy of the combina- tion in modulating xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes and the increased frequency of bone marrow micronuclei. To- gether, these findings substantiate the antigenotoxic and anticarcinogenic effects of tomato and garlic reported by us and other workers.” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15925298
“Administration of tomato and garlic, both alone and in combination, significantly decreased HBP tumor incidence and tumor burden. This was associated with modulation of lipid peroxidation and increase in GSH-dependent antioxidant enzyme activities and GSH/GSSG ratio in the buccal pouch, liver, and erythrocytes. From these results, we suggest that the enhancement of GSH and GSH-dependent enzymes by a tomato and garlic combination may be attributed to modification of the thiol status.” https://www.sciencedirect.com/…/pii/S0271531703002409
“The addition of garlic or onion facilitated lowering plasma lipid and enhanced the antioxidant function; suggesting that garlic had more effectiveness on lowering plasma lipids and inhibiting the accumulation of liver lipids, and suppress- ing antioxidative enzyme activities than onion.” https://www.atherosclerosis-journal.com/article/S0021-9150(97)84698-9/pdf
Grapes
Similar to chocolate, since many dogs cannot tolerate grapes many hamster owners and keepers have deemed grapes unsafe. There is evidence to support grapes having health benefits.
“These findings suggested that consumption of wild grape WSCC might diminish the exposure of intestinal mucosa to toxic ammonia and other detrimental compounds and, hence exert, favorable effects on improving gastrointestinal milieu.” http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jf300942p
“This is the first time that chronic consumption of grape phenolics is shown to reduce obesity development and related metabolic pathways including adipokine secretion and oxidative stress.
Chardonnay grape seed procyanidin extract supplementation prevents high-fat diet-induced obesity in hamsters by improving adipokine imbalance and oxidative stress markers (PDF Download Available).” Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/23499367_Chardonnay_grape_seed_procyanidin_extract_supplementation_prevents_high-fat_diet-induced_obesity_in_hamsters_by_improving_adipokine_imbalance_and_oxidative_stress_markers [accessed May 17, 2017].
Further Reading
Leeks
Again, leeks are another commonly thought “dangerous” food. Studies show that they may have beneficial health impacts.
Persian leek is one of the most widely used herbal foods among Iranians. In this study, effects of oral administration of Persian leek on plasma and liver lipids were examined in hamster.Male Syrian hamsters were randomly divided into three groups: control (standard diet), high fat control (high-fat/high-cholesterol diet), Persian leek (high-fat/high-cholesterol diet + 1% per weight of diet from dried powdered Persian leek) for 14 weeks. High fat diet increased plasma and liver lipids as compared to standard diet. Adding Persian leek to the high-fat/high-cholesterol diet resulted in no significant changes in the concentration of the plasma lipids or liver cholesterol. However, liver triglycerides (TG), plasma Alanine aminotransferase and gene expression of tumor necrosis factor- α were decreased in hamsters fed high-fat diet containing Persian leek as compared to high-fat diet only. Persian leek might be considered as a herbal food that can reduce liver TG accumulation induced by high fat diets. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27516982
Onions
Similar to garlic, onions have also shown that they’re safe, when cooked into other foods. We recommend owners only feed cooked onion, and when included in other food (like purees), as opposed to on its own.
“Onion has been shown to favorably modify the lipoprotein profile. However, research on its underlying mechanism is lacking. The present study investigated the interaction of dietary onion powder with the protein expression of key receptors and enzymes involved in cholesterol metabolism. Thirty-six male hamsters were randomly divided into three groups and fed a high-cholesterol control diet or the two experimental diets supplemented with 1% onion powder (OP-1) or 5% onion powder (OP-5), for a period of 8 weeks. It was found that onion dose-dependently decreased plasma total cholesterol (TC) level. The change in plasma lipoprotein profile was accompanied by a greater excretion of both fecal neutral and acidic sterols. Western blot analysis revealed that onion up-regulated sterol regulatory element binding protein 2 (SREBP-2), liver X receptor alpha (LXRα) and cholesterol-7α-hydroxylase (CYP7A1) with no effect on 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGR) and LDL receptor (LDL-R). It was concluded that the hypocholesterolemic activity of onion powder was mediated by enhancement of fecal sterol excretion and up-regulation of LXRα and CYP7A1.” http://pubs.rsc.org/en/Content/ArticleLanding/2010/FO/c0fo00036a#!divAbstract
“The addition of garlic or onion facilitated lowering plasma lipid and enhanced the antioxidant function; suggesting that garlic had more effectiveness on lowering plasma lipids and inhibiting the accumulation of liver lipids, and suppress- ing antioxidative enzyme activities than onion.” https://www.atherosclerosis-journal.com/article/S0021-9150(97)84698-9/pdf
Peanut Butter
The concern with peanut butter is simply it being sticky and gettting stuck in pouches. The best type of peanut butter to use is all natural. A small amount is perfectly fine, and a great way to encourage a picky hamster to take their medicine!
Raisins
Similarly to grapes, raisins are often deemed unsafe because of their toxicity to some dogs. Raisins are perfectly fine and safe, and just like fruits, have good sugars in them that are fine even for diabetic species.
Tomato
Tomatoes are often thought to be unsafe because they are “too acidic”. Fresh, their pH is 4.3-4.9. For reference, apples fall in the 3.2-4.0 range… so apples are more acidic based of pH. Tomatoes are perfectly fine as a treat.
Watermelon
Cucumber and watermelon both get a bad reputation as more watery fruits. They are perfect foods for providing hydration especially on long journeys. As well, a hamster will simply moderate their water intake to make up for it. When worried, just remind yourself that we allow our animals free access to water… which is arguably much waterier than cucumber or watermelon!
Dangerous FoodsAs rodents, there are very few foods which are a hard no. Essentially they can eat just about anything humans can, but with some exceptions.
Recently, some studies have come out about cilantro and the mint family that indicate it might not be a great option for your hamster. Owners will need to rely on their own judgement when feeding cilantro. The problem with mint is not cut and dry–which is one reason we caution against it. While the animal is able to eat it and appear fine and healthy, it’s impossible to know what’s going on inside. The following study uses different concentrations of peppermint extract and oil to study the effects of mint overall. You’ll notice they do have to kill the test subjects and perform necropsies to see the damage done, which is something we just can’t do on pets until it’s too late.
While mint does admittedly have some positive effects on rodents, the big concern is that over time, it causes “Cystlike spaces scattered in the white matter of the cerebellum” of the test subjects. In other words, feeding mint regularly is associated with brain damage and we know very little about how this affects them throughout their lifespan. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11766133
There are many human foods which are safe for hamsters. As rodents, these animals are quite diverse and unique in their eating habits. Many people, including owners, breeders and rescues tend to unfairly compare hamsters’ nutritional needs to those of dogs and cats. However, rats are much closer biologically to hamsters, and as such, are better comparisons when it comes to what is and is not safe. For ease, this list has been divided into various categories. Any food items which have controversy surrounding them are located at the bottom of the list, supported by peer-reviewed scientific documents which support their position as safe, or unsafe.
When working with fresh food, a good “portion” guide is the size of your hamster’s ear.
FruitsFruits are a popular addition to an everyday hamster mix. Below is a fairly comprehensive list of some fruits that are safe for hamsters. Some may be addressed later on in our controversial area. Please note that fruits are perfectly acceptable to feed to all species of hamsters. While some species of dwarfs are diabetic prone they can still enjoy fruit in moderation. This article does a great job explaining why sugar in itself is not inherently bad, and how fruit can be an important part in a dwarfs’ regular diet.
- Acai
- Apples
- Apricots
- Bananas
- Blueberries
- Blackberries
- Boysenberries
- Cantaloupe
- Cherries (without pip)
- Cranberries
- Cucumbers
- Currants
- Dates
- Elderberries
- Figs
- Gooseberries
- Grapes
- Guava
- Honeydew melons
- Kiwis
- Kumquat
- Lychees
- Mangos
- Nectarines
- Papaya
- Passion fruit
- Peaches
- Pears
- Pineapple
- Plums
- Pomegranate
- Raspberries
- Starfruit
- Strawberries
- Tomatoes (Ripe, No Leaves/Stem)
- Watermelons
- Amaranth
- Arrugula
- Artichoke
- Asparagus
- Basil
- Beans
- Beet
- Bok Choy
- Broccoli
- Brussels sprouts
- Cabbage
- Carrot
- Cauliflower
- Celery
- Collards
- Corn
- Cucumber
- Dandelion
- Dill
- Fennel
- Ginger
- Kale
- Mushroom
- Parsley
- Parsnip
- Peas
- Pepper (Bell)
- Potato (Cooked!)
- Pumpkin
- Radicchio
- Romaine Lettuce
- Soybeans
- Spinach
- Squash
- Sweet Potato (Cooked)
- Swiss Chard
- Tomato
- Zucchini
- Chicken
- Cheese (Cheddar, Swiss, Marble, Parmesan, etc.)
- Cottage Cheese
- Crickets
- Eggs
- Grasshoppers
- Lean Ground Beef
- Mealworms
- Salmon
- Tofu
- Turkey
- Yoghurt
- Almonds
- Amaranth
- Barley
- Black Eyed Peas
- Black Turtle Beans
- Buckwheat
- Bulgar Wheat
- Chickpeas (Garbonzo Beans)
- Chia Seeds
- Couscous
- Farro
- Flax Seeds
- Hemp Hearts
- Lentils
- Millet
- Mung Beans
- Nutritional Yeast
- Oat Flakes
- Pastas, cooked and dry
- Peanuts
- Popped Corn
- Pumpkin Seeds
- Quinoa
- Rice, cooked and dry
- Rye Flakes
- Sesame Seeds
- Split Peas
- Sunflower Seeds
- Walnuts
- Wheat Germ
Almonds
Some of the hamster community has confused human grade almonds with bitter almonds, which are not sold for human consumption and contain cyanide. If you can eat it, so can your hamster.
Avocado
Based on research into the rat fancy, provided it does not include the pit or skin, avocado is safe. It is also recommended that you use flesh that is NOT touching the pit. It is very high in fat, something the owner should consider.
“This study investigated the impact of diets contain- ing various levels of avocado (5, 10 and 15%) on gut health in rats fed for six weeks. Avocado-fed rats had significantly higher food intakes while their body weights remained similar to the control diet-fed rats. No significant changes in intestinal bacterial populations (ileum, cecum and colon) were found in rats fed avocado diets compared to the control diet. Ileum and colon tissues of rats fed avocado diets showed significantly higher expression of genes (β-defensin 1, mucin 3 or mucin 4) and a greater number of mucin-producing goblet cells in the colon. The percentage of avocado in the diet had varying effects in altering the biomarkers, whereby diet containing 15% avocado was the more effective diet. This study delivers new knowledge on the role of avocado on gut health in rats.” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/28550342/
Chocolate
Chocolate is a very contested topic in small pet communities. Ultimately, chocolate is perfectly safe, however many owners still feel an initial knee-jerk reaction. Since the active ingredient in chocolate (theobromine) is toxic to dogs, many people push hamsters under this umbrella. It couldn’t be further from the truth - in fact, chocolate could mean the difference between life and death for a hamster or rat!
“Hamsters and mice were much more resistant to theobromine than were rats. A decrease in growth and in thymic weights occurred only at the highest dose levels of theobromine and testicular and thymic changes were completely absent in hamsters. “ http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0041008X79902850
“…more resistant than rats, while hamsters were almost completely resistant to the effects of high doses of theobromine (Tarka et al., 1979).” http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0041008X80903609
“Theobromine shows moderate acute toxicity and the dog is more susceptible than rodents.” http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/doc/725.pdf The use of theobromine (the active chemical in chocolate) as a bronchodilator:
“Surprisingly, accumulating evidence suggests that dark chocolate can carry antitussive effects. Although mechanisms remain unknown, it is thought that theobromine, a methylxanthine intrinsic to dark chocolate, might potentially suppress cough.” http://dx.doi.org/10.3816/SCT.2007.n.006
Further Reading: http://dmd.aspetjournals.org/content/12/2/154.short
Citrus Fruits
Owners have cautioned against the use of citrus fruits for years citing they are “too acidic”. However, there is no scientific evidence that supports this. Instead, science points to citrus fruits being beneficial. We advise owners use their better judgement, and stick to “sweeter” citrus fruits, such as tangerines and mandarins.
“To investigate the molecular mechanism based chemopreventive efficacy of hesperetin on 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA) induced hamster buccal pouch (HBP) squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). The oral tumour was provoked by painted with 0.5% DMBA on left buccal pouch thrice a week for 10 consecutive weeks developed well-differentiated SCC and tumour formation was 100% in DMBA alone. We evaluated the chemopreventive potential of hesperetin by assessing the lipid peroxidation (LPO) by-products, status of enzymatic, non-enzymatic antioxidants, detoxifying agents etc. Moreover, modulating expression of apoptotic and cell proliferation markers were observed in HBP SCC experimental hamsters. Oral administration of hesperetin (20 mg/kg b.w.) to DMBA painted hamsters significantly reversed the stages of oral SCC. Our findings indicate that hesperetin possesses a chemopreventive effect in DMBA-induced oral SCC by exerting anti-carcinogenic property.” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28457144
“The results of this study suggest that lemon peels and the waste stream of the lemon peels are as effective in lowering plasma and liver cholesterol in hamsters as the pectin extracted from the peels and that also compounds other than pectin are probably responsible for the cholesterol lowering effect of the citrus peels.” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11990004
“The data show that 4 flavonoids (hesperetin, neohesperidin, tangeretin, and nobiletin) were inactive. The results with naringin and naringenin show that both of these flavonoids significantly lowered tumor number [5.00 (control group), 2.53 (naringin group), and 3.25 (naringenin group)]. Naringin also significantly reduced tumor burden [269 mmm3(control group) and 77.1 mmm3(naringin group)]. The data suggest that naringin and naringenin, 2 flavonoids found in high concentrations in grapefruit, may be able to inhibit the development of cancer.” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18444138
Additional Reading:
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11062760
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25896273
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S175646461500612X?via%3Dihub
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095496417603273?via%3Dihub
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0024320506000762?via%3Dihub
Cucumber and watermelon both get a bad reputation as more watery fruits. They are perfect foods for providing hydration especially on long journeys. As well, a hamster will simply moderate their water intake to make up for it. When worried, just remind yourself that we allow our animals free access to water… which is arguably much waterier than cucumber or watermelon!
Dairy Products
Unlike many other animals, hamsters are not lactose intolerant. This means they can consume dairy and dairy products without any issue.
Hamsters also demonstrated the highest levels of lactose consumption. […] The hamster’s pregastric pouch is similar in both structure and function to the rumen of herbivores. It is likely that the ruminant type microorganisms residing in the pregastric pouch, like those of the rumen of herbivores, rapidly attack and digest water soluble carbohydrates such as lactose, thereby minimizing the amount of ingested lactose that reaches the small intestine intact and sparing hamsters the negative consequences of lactose ingestion that are typically experienced by monogastric animals such as rats. Voluntary Lactose Ingestion in Gerbils, Rats, Mice, and Golden Hamsters, David DiBattista, Physiology and Behaviour, Vol. 52, pp 59-63, 1992.
Which then led him to further studies, which proved said hypothesis below.
It is surprising that adult golden hamsters, which resemble other animals in intestinal lactase nevertheless prefer lactose solutions to water over a wide range of concentrations and voluntarily ingest substanstial amounts of lactose […] the hamster’s unusually high level of voluntary lactose consumption depends upon its possession of a pregastric pouch that is similar in both structure and function to the rumen of herbivores […] In the golden hamster, ingested food first enters the pregastric pouch, where it remains for up to an hour or more, with volatile fatty acids being produced and absorbed into the bloodstream. Food then passes into the gastric pouch, which is similar to the glandular stomach of monogastric mammals such as rats, mice and gerbils. […] The microorganisms of the pre-gastric pouch allow hamsters to utilize nonprotein nitrogen sources, such as urea, and may play an important role in the digestion of plant material. Futhermore, those microorganisms, like those residing in the rumen of herbivores, would reasonably be expected to attack and digest water-soluble carbohydrates such as lactose, and thereby to minimize the amount of ingested lactose that reaches the gastric pouch and the small and large intestines. […] This experiment demonstrates that surgical removal of the hamster’s pregastric pouch causes a 40% reduction in voluntary lactose consumption. Surgical Removal of the Pregastric Pouch Reduces Voluntary Lactose Consumption in Golden Hamsters, David DiBattista and Michele Robillard in Physiology and Behaviour, Vol. 53, pp 425-429, 1993
Garlic
Garlic has previously been thought as quite a dangerous food for hamsters. However, studies are showing that it actually has nutritional benefits! We still advise owners to not feed their hamsters raw garlic, or garlic on its own, however it is perfectly safe when cooked into other foods (ie. savoury baby food purees).
“The findings in this study further demonstrate that unlike most of the standard antileishmanial drugs, which require protracted parenteral therapy and are toxic, an agent derived from garlic can be administered either orally or intraperitoneally with similar effectiveness against Leishmania parasites.”” http://www.mrcindia.org/journal/issues/473160.pdf
“Administration of a combined dose of tomato and garlic significantly decreased the incidence of HBP carcinomas and mean tumor burden and the frequency of bone marrow micronuclei. . .The present study, an extension of our previous work, demonstrates the efficacy of the combina- tion in modulating xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes and the increased frequency of bone marrow micronuclei. To- gether, these findings substantiate the antigenotoxic and anticarcinogenic effects of tomato and garlic reported by us and other workers.” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15925298
“Administration of tomato and garlic, both alone and in combination, significantly decreased HBP tumor incidence and tumor burden. This was associated with modulation of lipid peroxidation and increase in GSH-dependent antioxidant enzyme activities and GSH/GSSG ratio in the buccal pouch, liver, and erythrocytes. From these results, we suggest that the enhancement of GSH and GSH-dependent enzymes by a tomato and garlic combination may be attributed to modification of the thiol status.” https://www.sciencedirect.com/…/pii/S0271531703002409
“The addition of garlic or onion facilitated lowering plasma lipid and enhanced the antioxidant function; suggesting that garlic had more effectiveness on lowering plasma lipids and inhibiting the accumulation of liver lipids, and suppress- ing antioxidative enzyme activities than onion.” https://www.atherosclerosis-journal.com/article/S0021-9150(97)84698-9/pdf
Grapes
Similar to chocolate, since many dogs cannot tolerate grapes many hamster owners and keepers have deemed grapes unsafe. There is evidence to support grapes having health benefits.
“These findings suggested that consumption of wild grape WSCC might diminish the exposure of intestinal mucosa to toxic ammonia and other detrimental compounds and, hence exert, favorable effects on improving gastrointestinal milieu.” http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jf300942p
“This is the first time that chronic consumption of grape phenolics is shown to reduce obesity development and related metabolic pathways including adipokine secretion and oxidative stress.
Chardonnay grape seed procyanidin extract supplementation prevents high-fat diet-induced obesity in hamsters by improving adipokine imbalance and oxidative stress markers (PDF Download Available).” Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/23499367_Chardonnay_grape_seed_procyanidin_extract_supplementation_prevents_high-fat_diet-induced_obesity_in_hamsters_by_improving_adipokine_imbalance_and_oxidative_stress_markers [accessed May 17, 2017].
Further Reading
- http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jf040125d
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0021915000006250
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2728696/
- https://academic.oup.com/jn/article/139/9/1801S/4670549
- https://open.library.ubc.ca/cIRcle/collections/ubctheses/24/items/1.0342344
Leeks
Again, leeks are another commonly thought “dangerous” food. Studies show that they may have beneficial health impacts.
Persian leek is one of the most widely used herbal foods among Iranians. In this study, effects of oral administration of Persian leek on plasma and liver lipids were examined in hamster.Male Syrian hamsters were randomly divided into three groups: control (standard diet), high fat control (high-fat/high-cholesterol diet), Persian leek (high-fat/high-cholesterol diet + 1% per weight of diet from dried powdered Persian leek) for 14 weeks. High fat diet increased plasma and liver lipids as compared to standard diet. Adding Persian leek to the high-fat/high-cholesterol diet resulted in no significant changes in the concentration of the plasma lipids or liver cholesterol. However, liver triglycerides (TG), plasma Alanine aminotransferase and gene expression of tumor necrosis factor- α were decreased in hamsters fed high-fat diet containing Persian leek as compared to high-fat diet only. Persian leek might be considered as a herbal food that can reduce liver TG accumulation induced by high fat diets. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27516982
Onions
Similar to garlic, onions have also shown that they’re safe, when cooked into other foods. We recommend owners only feed cooked onion, and when included in other food (like purees), as opposed to on its own.
“Onion has been shown to favorably modify the lipoprotein profile. However, research on its underlying mechanism is lacking. The present study investigated the interaction of dietary onion powder with the protein expression of key receptors and enzymes involved in cholesterol metabolism. Thirty-six male hamsters were randomly divided into three groups and fed a high-cholesterol control diet or the two experimental diets supplemented with 1% onion powder (OP-1) or 5% onion powder (OP-5), for a period of 8 weeks. It was found that onion dose-dependently decreased plasma total cholesterol (TC) level. The change in plasma lipoprotein profile was accompanied by a greater excretion of both fecal neutral and acidic sterols. Western blot analysis revealed that onion up-regulated sterol regulatory element binding protein 2 (SREBP-2), liver X receptor alpha (LXRα) and cholesterol-7α-hydroxylase (CYP7A1) with no effect on 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGR) and LDL receptor (LDL-R). It was concluded that the hypocholesterolemic activity of onion powder was mediated by enhancement of fecal sterol excretion and up-regulation of LXRα and CYP7A1.” http://pubs.rsc.org/en/Content/ArticleLanding/2010/FO/c0fo00036a#!divAbstract
“The addition of garlic or onion facilitated lowering plasma lipid and enhanced the antioxidant function; suggesting that garlic had more effectiveness on lowering plasma lipids and inhibiting the accumulation of liver lipids, and suppress- ing antioxidative enzyme activities than onion.” https://www.atherosclerosis-journal.com/article/S0021-9150(97)84698-9/pdf
Peanut Butter
The concern with peanut butter is simply it being sticky and gettting stuck in pouches. The best type of peanut butter to use is all natural. A small amount is perfectly fine, and a great way to encourage a picky hamster to take their medicine!
Raisins
Similarly to grapes, raisins are often deemed unsafe because of their toxicity to some dogs. Raisins are perfectly fine and safe, and just like fruits, have good sugars in them that are fine even for diabetic species.
Tomato
Tomatoes are often thought to be unsafe because they are “too acidic”. Fresh, their pH is 4.3-4.9. For reference, apples fall in the 3.2-4.0 range… so apples are more acidic based of pH. Tomatoes are perfectly fine as a treat.
Watermelon
Cucumber and watermelon both get a bad reputation as more watery fruits. They are perfect foods for providing hydration especially on long journeys. As well, a hamster will simply moderate their water intake to make up for it. When worried, just remind yourself that we allow our animals free access to water… which is arguably much waterier than cucumber or watermelon!
Dangerous FoodsAs rodents, there are very few foods which are a hard no. Essentially they can eat just about anything humans can, but with some exceptions.
- Blue Cheese, and other soft or mouldy cheeses
- Chili Peppers (or any hot pepper)
- Coriander/Cilantro
Recently, some studies have come out about cilantro and the mint family that indicate it might not be a great option for your hamster. Owners will need to rely on their own judgement when feeding cilantro. The problem with mint is not cut and dry–which is one reason we caution against it. While the animal is able to eat it and appear fine and healthy, it’s impossible to know what’s going on inside. The following study uses different concentrations of peppermint extract and oil to study the effects of mint overall. You’ll notice they do have to kill the test subjects and perform necropsies to see the damage done, which is something we just can’t do on pets until it’s too late.
While mint does admittedly have some positive effects on rodents, the big concern is that over time, it causes “Cystlike spaces scattered in the white matter of the cerebellum” of the test subjects. In other words, feeding mint regularly is associated with brain damage and we know very little about how this affects them throughout their lifespan. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11766133
- Eggplant/Aubergine
- Kidney Beans (uncooked)
- Mint
- Packaged Meats (ie. deli meats, sandwich meats)
- Raw, Green Potato
- Rhubarb Leaves